New from City and Town: Partnering with Lawrence

In this week's City and Town, the newsletter published by the Division of Local Services on subjects of interest to local officials, DOR Deputy Commissioner Robert G. Nunes writes about the significance of the bill Gov. Deval Patrick signed earlier this week allowing the City of Lawrence to deficit borrow over a two-year period as the city and its new leadership attempt to get a handle on budget problems.

Nunes points out that the borrowing is not a blank check – that in fact the taxpayers of Lawrence will have to pay it back. He also writes that a Finance Control Board will be – not may be – installed if local officials are unable to fix the city's finances.

The bedrock under the Lawrence bill, Nunes writes, is the long tradition in Massachusetts of local government and citizens directing their own affairs. Lawrence now has an opportunity to solve its problems, but if it can't a control board will take over.